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OPINION

Letters and feedback: June 9, 2019

A man begs and prays not to be taken away by Mexican immigration authorities as he holds his child, during a raid on a migrant caravan that had earlier crossed the Mexico - Guatemala border, near Metapa, Chiapas state, Mexico, Wednesday, June 5, 2019.(Photo: Marco Ugarte, AP)

Take action on climate change

In 2018, members of the Climate Solutions Caucus, a bipartisan collective of congressmen, introduced a bill to Congress known as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, or EICD for short.

Among the five original introducers of this legislation were three members of the House of Representatives from Florida: Ted Deutch, Francis Rooney and Charlie Christ. They, like countless Floridians, have seen firsthand the effect of climate change on Florida, from algae blooms to increased heat to the continual decline of the Everglades' natural habitat.

The EICD would aim to combat these issues by putting a tax on carbon pollution by companies. The fee would start low, and grow over time, giving companies the time to transition to more sustainable options. The profits from this tax would then be redistributed back to low and middle income families, helping to bolster the economy in turn, and without the government keeping a single cent.

Best of all, the EICD is revenue-neutral, meaning that it wouldn't cost the U.S. government a penny to implement. Crucially, however, the vast majority of Florida's federal politicians have as of yet refused to co-sponsor the bill. This is despite increasingly overwhelming evidence that our state is and will be one of the states most affected by climate change. As these effects get worse, more and more politicians will likely sign on to such initiatives, but action should be taken before it is too late — not after.

Evan Lindeman, Satellite Beach

This won't 'end well' for wildlife

The Trump administration wants to open up millions of acres of wildlife refuges for hunting and fishing. They've already allowed access to oil and gas industries to previously preserved lands. Now they are opening up our St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida and 73 other national wildlife preserves for hunting and fishing. They also are working on opening up the arctic refuge for oil drilling.

None of this sounds like it will end well, especially for the wildlife in these refuges that have been protected for decades. Sounds like no one has attempted to stop this barbaric turn of major negative proportions.

Judy McGee, Melbourne

Just which Mexico is our friend?

President Trump is raising tariffs on Mexican imports until Mexico stops allowing illegals to travel through their country to invade the U.S. The numbers are now exceeding 100,000 per month.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that this is no way to treat our good friend Mexico. Obviously, there are two countries named Mexico.

The one I'm familiar with has been dumping millions of their unskilled, uneducated, destitute people on the U.S. for decades to avoid the enormous drain on their economy in the form of education, housing, food stamps, health care, crime prevention, etc. They prefer we pay for all that.

My Mexico also allows the vast majority of illegal drugs entering the U.S. to cross their borders into the U.S. My Mexico has a southern border that is only approximately 150 miles in length and does nothing to stop the illegal invasion from Central America.

I'm sure the Mexican government has always loved Pelosi and the Democrats. I am amazed that any American would consider Mexico a friend.

Dennis Grzymkowski, Indian Harbour Beach

In no way is border 'invasion' a good thing

Guest columnist Gil Smart’s recent contribution, titled “Shouldn’t ‘blue’ Florida have welcomed the migrants?” was thought-provoking, even if nearly unsolvable in America’s current political environment.

“Migrants such as those pouring over our southern border represent vibrancy and opportunity, enriching our culture and our economy and contributing far more than they take." So say those who support our current immigration laws or would even loosen immigration controls. How could anyone consider the invasion of our southern border as a good thing?

When reports that thousands of migrants (on catch and release) would be moved from the border to Broward and Palm Beach counties, why did county officials of probably the state’s most liberal-progressive counties complain that it wasn’t “fair” that migrants become their responsibility? This story may have only been a trial balloon by U.S. immigration officials, being later disclaimed by Trump officials.

But, what would be fair would be for Congress to stop the Trump-resistance and consider the southern border and the immigration system a significant enough issue to take as little as one legislative day, to pass new immigration laws that would update the process for asylum-seekers; detention of immigrant families and particularly children; and, end catch and release policy within our borders.

With attempted border crossings of over 100,000 individuals per month, Congress’ inaction has forced President Trump to resort to a variety of imperfect actions to stem the tide at our southern border. When will Congress address the nation’s best interests?